Conservative Radio Host Erick Erickson Brands CPAC a 'Clown' Show
Prominent conservative radio host Erick Erickson launched a scathing critique of the Conservative Political Action Conference on Wednesday, suggesting the "C" in CPAC should now stand for "clown." Erickson pointed to leadership controversies and a controversial speaker lineup as evidence the event has strayed from conservative principles.
Allegations Against CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp
Erickson specifically targeted CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp, who leads the American Conservative Union that organizes the annual gathering. "The head of CPAC, Matt Schlapp, has been accused multiple times of inappropriate sexual behavior towards other men," Erickson wrote on social media platform X.
Schlapp faced allegations in 2023 from GOP strategist Carlton Huffman, who claimed Schlapp "groped" and "fondled" his groin without consent during a political event. Schlapp firmly denied these allegations, and Huffman eventually dropped his lawsuit. However, The Washington Post reported in 2023 that Schlapp had previously been accused of attempting to kiss a male CPAC staffer without consent in 2017 and making unwanted sexual advances on another person during a 2022 business trip.
"Undeterred from running the Conservative Political Action Conference, Schlapp has invited Steve Bannon on stage," Erickson noted, connecting leadership concerns to programming decisions.
Controversial Speaker Lineup Draws Criticism
Erickson highlighted several problematic speakers in his critique. He noted that Steve Bannon, former aide to President Donald Trump, "was one of Jeffrey Epstein's friends" and had attempted to rehabilitate the late sex offender's image with a lengthy interview before Epstein's apparent suicide in prison in 2019. Bannon is prominently mentioned in Epstein files released by the Department of Justice.
The conservative host also criticized Bannon for telling voters to "get accommodated" with a third, unconstitutional Trump term and for stating last year that he would care more about Palantir, the technology company currently streamlining data on U.S. citizens for the federal government, if a Democrat were in office.
Erickson further questioned CPAC's decision to include Todd Chrisley, who was sentenced to twelve years in prison for tax evasion before receiving a pardon from Donald Trump. Chrisley and his wife Julie rose to fame through the USA Network reality show "Chrisley Knows Best" before being found guilty in 2022 of approximately $30 million in bank fraud and tax evasion. Trump called their sentences "pretty harsh treatment" in 2025 while announcing his pardon plan.
Questioning Conservative Institutional Integrity
Erickson, representing a more traditional conservative perspective, appeared to argue that pardoned criminals and controversial figures have no place at what should be a serious conservative gathering. He concluded his Wednesday critique by stating, "The 'C' in CPAC is now best represented by the word 'clown' than as any semblance of a conservative institution."
The criticism comes two weeks after Erickson first raised concerns about CPAC's direction, suggesting ongoing dissatisfaction with how the prominent conservative conference is being managed and who it chooses to platform. The comments reflect broader tensions within conservative circles about institutional credibility and appropriate representation of conservative values.
